BUZZ-U.S. STOCKS ON THE MOVE-Nike, Celladon, Micron Tech, GigaMedia

Reuters Staff

5 Min Read

(For faster updates on individual market-movers, Eikon users please use search string "STXBZ US"; for the Day Ahead newsletter, link.reuters.com/mex49s; for the Morning News Call newsletter, link.reuters.com/nex49s) U.S. stock index futures were higher on Friday after a note prepared for Eurogroup said the euro zone could help Greece repay maturing debt if the current bailout program is extended to November. Dow Jones industrial average e-mini futures were up 0.14 percent at 17,837, S&P 500 futures were up 0.11 percent at 2,096.25 and Nasdaq 100 futures were down 0.14 percent at 4,503.

** NIKE INC, Thursday close $105.22, +3.61 pct premarket

The world’s largest footwear maker reported a better-than-expected profit for the eighth quarter in a row as it sold more high-margin shoes and apparel at higher prices, and posted a surprise rise in growth of “futures orders”.

At least 11 brokerages raised price targets after the company also raised its full-year currency-neutral sales forecast.

** CELLADON CORP, Thursday close $2.2, -42.73 pct premarket

The drug developer said it would suspend further development of its gene-therapy drug for heart failure, months after the treatment failed a mid-stage trial.

** MICRON TECHNOLOGY INC, Thursday close $24.02, -15.07 pct premarket

The chipmaker said it expects a further decline in prices of chips used in personal computers, and forecast revenue for the current quarter well below market estimates.

China’s No. 2 e-commerce firm is launching a Chinese consumer credit data system as a joint venture with U.S. credit-scoring technology company ZestFinance, taking on a rival service linked to the larger Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.

** UNITEDHEALTH GROUP, Thursday close $122.33

** CENTENE CORP, Thursday close $81.48

** HCA HOLDINGS, Thursday close $90.72

** TENET HEALTHCARE CORP, Thursday close $56.21

U.S. hospital shares surged on Thursday, with several hitting all-time highs, and other healthcare names rallied on after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld tax subsidies key to President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law. Wall Street analysts called the ruling positive for an industry on the edge of consolidation.

BREAKINGVIEWS-Supreme Court tells Obamacare opponents to move on

** AETNA INC, Thursday close $132.6

** HUMANA INC, Thursday close $197.37, +0.98 pct premarket

U.S. health insurer Aetna is close to buying rival Humana and a deal could be signed as early as this weekend, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

** POTASH CORP OF SASKATCHEWAN INC, Thursday close $31.89

German potash producer K+S said on Thursday it had received a takeover proposal from larger Canadian fertilizer producer Potash Corp of Saskatchewan Inc, potentially marking the start of a new takeover saga in the industry.

** GENERAL ELECTRIC CO, Thursday close $27.04

Capital One Financial Corp and Apollo Global Management have bid for General Electric’s healthcare finance unit, which could fetch more than $11 billion, Bloomberg reported.

** CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS INC, Thursday close $167.84

The cable company formally argued for regulatory approval for its Time Warner Cable Inc and Bright House Networks deals, saying consumers would benefit as Internet services would become cheaper and faster.

The company said its ousted Chief Executive Dov Charney filed two more lawsuits against the company alleging defamation, representation in false light and claims for securities fraud.

** ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO, Thursday close $23.4

The clothing retailer agreed to special monitoring of its hiring practices and to pay more than $158,000 to settle a federal charge that it discriminated against a job candidate who was not a U.S. citizen by requiring her to present a green card. (Compiled By Anya George Tharakan in Bengaluru; Editing by Simon Jennings)